Door lock control



July 10, 1951 J. H. ROETHEL DOOR LOCK CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I FiledOct. 26, 1944 y 1951 .1. H. ROETHEL 2,560,477

, DOOR LOCK CONTROL Filed Oct. 26, 1944 2 Sheets-$11501. 2

.'NVENTOR. J21? li Faei$el Q? Swain Patented July 10, 1951 DOOR LOCKCONTROL John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Roethel EngineeringCorporation,

Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application October 26, 1944, SerialNo. 560,391

4 Claims.

This invention relates to control mechanism for door locks and moreparticularly to a plunger or push button assembly adapted to be mountedupon the outside or inside of a swinging door,

especially an automobile or other vehicle door, for "actuating the lockor latch mechanism for the door.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for aplunger or push button adapted to be shifted transversely of the door toactuate an element of the door latch mounted within the well or otherenclosed space within the door for releasing the latch and permittingthe door to be opened.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved handleassembly adapted to be mounted on the inside or outside of the door andin which a push button or plunger is carried by the handle for releasingthe door latch to permit opening of the door.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a unitary mountingor assembly having a push button or plunger mounted on the handle insuch manner and in such position as not only to permit convenientoperation thereof when the handle is grasped but also to enable thehandle to lie as close to the body as possible while providing means forshielding or guarding the projecting portion of the push button orplunger.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plunger or push buttonassembly for a door latch mechanism in which the base of the assemblyforms a continuation of or an extension of the belt line molding of thedoor and body and is adapted to blend into the molding so as to enhancethe appearance of the door while at the same time providing a convenientmeans for actuating the latch mechanism when it is desired to open thedoor.

Other objects of this invention will. appear in the followingdescription and appended claims,. reference being had to theaccompanying draw- 2 the arrows and showing a portion of a latch deviceadapted to be controlled in accordance with any embodiments of thepresent invention.

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially through lines l l of Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially through lines 55 of Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a face view of a handle assembly mounted upon a door andillustrating one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. '7 is a section taken substantially through lines 1-! of Fig. 6looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 6 illustrating a handleassembly constructed in accordance with another embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially through Also it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation.

The door lock control mechanism embodying the present invention may beused in connection with a door lock for an automobile door, such as thefront door 20 hinged at its forward edge to the front pillar of the body2|. Extending along the side of the body and door 20 is an ornamentalbelt line molding 22. The door lock may comprise a latch bolt 23projecting longitudinally .through an arcuate slot 24 in the free edgewall 25 of the door and cooperable with a striker or keeper on the jambedge 26 of the body pillar. The door comprises the usual outer metaldoor panel 21 having its edge crimped around the flanged outer edge ofthe pillar to provide an overlap flange 28. Referring to Fig. 3 thelatch bolt 23 is rigidly secured within the window well to a rotatablelatch bolt plate 29 mounted to turn about the axis of a pin or stud 30secured thereto and journalled on the usual case plate of the cessivelyduring closing of the door by a detcnt 33 pivoted at its inner end at 34to the case plate.

The opposite end of the detent carries a pin 35 slidable within a slot36 in the inner end 31a of a lever 31 fulcrumed at 38 on the lock caseplate and provided with 9. depending extension 31b widened at its lowerend at 310 for engagement by the plunger or push button of the controlmechanism of any of the embodiments of the invention, such as the stem39 of the push button 49 shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

In Fig. 3 the door 28 is closed and the latch bolt is held in lockedposition by engagement of the detent 33 with the shoulder 32. Byshifting the stem 39 inwardly against the end 310 of the lever 31 thelatter will be swung about its fulcrum 39, raising the end 31a thereofand correspondingly raising the end of the detent through the pin andslot connection 35, 36. When the detent is thus swung upwardly it willrelease the plate 29 permitting it to be swung counterclockwise underthe action of tension spring 4 I, this spring having its upper endanchored to lever 31 and its lower end anchored to plate 29. Rotation ofthe plate when thus released will swing latch bolt 23 from the upper endof slot 24 to the lower end thereof, unlatch the door and urge'the sameinto open position. The construction of the latch mechanism as well asthe striker device associated with the latch bolt, herein shown andabove described, corresponds to the disclosure of my copendingapplication Serial No. 550,036 filed Aug. 18, 1944.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and the lock control unitcomprises an elongated mounting or base 42 having opposite ends shapedand contoured to simulate the belt molding 22, such for example as shownin section in Fig. 5. One end 42a of the base abuts against the end ofthe belt molding and, being the same width and cross-sectional shapethereof, forms a continuation of the molding. The opposite end 42bterminates at the edge of the door and forms a similar continuation ofthe belt molding 22 on the adjacent door. The base 42, which may be adie-casting, is widened intermediate its ends at 42c and formed with anoutwardly converging curved wall aperture 43 providing a socket for thesemi-pherical button 40. This button is hinged at its upper edge at 480.to the door panel 21 so that when pressed inwardly the button will tiltor swing about the hinge axis. This construction facilitates operationby pressure of the thumb against the lower part of the button and alsoprovides more effective contact of the stem 39 with the end 310 of thedetent release lever 31. It also provides inexpensive anchoring meansfor the button requiring no additional space transversely. The widenedportion 420 of the base is formed above the button with an arcuate hoodor guard 44 which overhangs the button and encloses opposite, uppersides thereof. This hood not only shields the button against rain butalso provides a guard preventing accidental operation of the button.Below the button 40 the portion 42c of the base 42 is formed with aprojecting hollow finger grip or handle portion 42d into which thefingers may be inserted to permit the door to be pulled upon afterpressing the button 48.

The base 42 is provided with theft-proof means for attaching it to thepanel 21. At its forward end it is formed on the inside thereof with ahook 45 insertable through a slot 46 in the panel so as to permit thehook to engage over the rear edge of the slot. After this operation theopposite end of the base is attached to the door overlap flange by ascrew 41 accessible at the inside of the flange and hence, inaccessiblewhen the door is closed as shown in Fig. 2.

In the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7 a handle forming base 48 is used inlieu of the base 42 of the previous embodiment. The forward end 48a ofthe base abuts against the adjacent end of the belt molding 22 and is ofthe same width to form a continuation thereof. It may be shaped incross-section so as to give an ornamental appearance and to blend intothe contour of the belt molding. The opposite end 48b terminatesadjacent the edge of the door overlap flange as in the previousembodiment and in advance thereof is provided with a transverse slot oropening 49 to receive a push-button 58 of similar shape. This button islocated immediately in rear of the central hand grip portion forconvenient engagement by the thumb when the handle is grasped. Thebutton has a stem or plunger 5| projecting through a slot 52 in the doorpanel 21. Extending within and across the inner end of the slot 49 andlying against the panel 21 is a retainer piece 53. Interposed betweenthe retainer piece and a groove 54 in the base of the button 58 is alight compression spring 55 which assists in returning the button to itsnormal position as shown. The button is anchored in this positionagainst withdrawal outwardly by a fixed pin 55 extending through thestem 5| and having its projecting ends engageable in grooves 51 in thepiece 53.

The handle base 48 is secured to the panel 21 in substantially the samemanner as in the previous embodiment by means of a hook 58 insertablethrough a slot in the panel and adapted to hook over the rear edge ofthe slot. The opposite end of the base is secured from the inside of theoverlap flange 28 by a screw 59 rendering the assembly theft proof whenthe door is closed. The outer face of the handle may be formed with anornamental embossment 60 forming a rib merging at its side edges 68ainto the surface of the handle and increasing in thickness rearwardly toterminate in a guard shoulder 691) having its outer surface flush withthe outer end of the button. This construction not only tends to improvethe appearance but also protects the button against damage and guardsagainst inadvertent operation of the button.

It will be understood that by grasping the handle portion of the member48 and pressing inwardly on the button 50 with the thumb, the

plunger or stem 5| will engage the end 310 of the lever 31 (Fig. 3) andrelease the detent 33 from the latch bolt plate 29. The latch bolt 23will immediately swing toward open or unlocked position. Hence, at thesame time that the thumb presses in the push button the handle may bepulled to swing the door open.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 and. 9 there is provided an elongatedbase 6| which may be in the form of a metal die casting or moldedplastic material. This base may also have the same width and thicknessas the belt line molding 22 and form a continuation thereof. The base 6|is secured to the door panel 21 by a screw 62 and is provided atopposite ends with flat surfaces Bla and 6 lb providing seats for theplane surfaces of the ends 63a and 63b of a handle 63. The end 63a isprovided with a tapered projection or dowel 64 insertable into anaperture 65 in the base and held against withdrawal therefrom by theoverlying wall 66 of the aperture. The opposite end 63b of the handlehas a projecting tongue 61 extending through an aperture 68 in the baseand a corresponding aperture 69 in the panel 31 and secured to the innerside of the free edge wall 25 by a screw 10. This construction rendersthe handle theft-proof since the fastening means at opposite endsthereof is inaccessible when the door is closed.

The thickened end 63b of the handle is provided with a curved angularlyextending slot H within which a push button 12 has a sliding fit. Thisslot extends at an angle as compared with the straight slot 49 in theprevious embodiment so as to cause the thumb engaging end 12a of thebutton to face more to the rear and away from the protruding portion ofthe handle, thus minimizing to a greater extent accidental operation ofthe button. The button, however, is convem'ently located for engagementby the thumb when the handle is grasped and its angular or curvilineartravel when pressed inwardly makes its operation by the thumb very easy.The button is provided with a plunger or stem 13 projecting through theapertures 68, 69 in the base and panel for engagement with theend 310 ofthe detent release lever 37 (Fig. 3). The button 12 is in this instanceprovided with a groove or slot 14 housing a light compression spring 15engaging a pin 16 anchored in a projecting lip, 17 on the handle andextending into the end of the slot to anchor the button against outwardwithdrawal.

The outer face of the handle 63 is formed with an ornamental embossment18 forming a rib merging at its side edges into the surface of the-handle and increasing in thickness rearwardly to terminate in ashoulder 18a masking the adjacent protruding side of the button. The endface 12a of the button thus lies flush with the face of the embossmentl8 and the width of the latter at its end is the same as the width ofthe button but less than the width of the handle portions 63b withinwhich the button is mounted. This construction not only enhances theappearance of the handle by tending to conceal the button, since its endsurface substantially merges into the surface of the embossment or rib18, but also provides a guard for the button minimizing the danger ofdamage thereto and inadvertent actuation thereof.

I claim:

1. A control device for a door latch carried by a swinging door andprovided with a shiftable member for releasing the latch bolt thereof,comprising a handle attachable at opposite ends to the door and having ahand grip intermediate said ends, a slidable plunger mounted in one ofsaid ends and projecting outwardly thereof for engagement by a finger topermit the plunger to be pressed inwardly and shift said bolt releasingmember, and an outwardly projecting rib on said hand grip having one endterminating at said plunger and lying substantially flush therewith toshield the projecting end of the plunger, the said end of the rib havingless width than the adjacent portion of the handle and substantially thesame width as the adjacent end of the plunger.

2. A handle for attachment to a door havin a door latch, comprising ahand grip intermediate the ends of the handle, a push button slidable inone of said ends for releasing the door latch and having its outer endprojecting beyond an adjacent surface of the handle, and an embossmenton the outer surface of the handle of less width than said surfaceterminating at the projecting end of the push button for concealing oneside thereof.

3. A handle for attachment to a door having a door latch, comprising ahand grip intermediate the ends of the handle, a push button slidable inone of said ends for releasing the door latch and having its outer endprojecting beyond an adjacent surface of the handle, and an embossmenton the outer surface of the handle of less width than said surfaceterminating at the projecting end of the push button for concealing oneside thereof, the adjacent portions of the push button and embossmenthaving substantially the same width.

4. A push button for attachment to the panel of an automobile doorhaving a door latch and a shiftable member for releasing the latch,comprising a base having means for attaching the same to said doorpanel, a handle spanning said base and having an intermediate hand gripterminating in ends engaging the outer face of the base and concealingsaid attaching means a push button slidable in one of said ends andprojecting through the door panel for engagement with said latchreleasin member, concealed means for attaching one end of the handle tosaid base, and a member on the handle projecting through the door panelfor attachment to the inner side of the free edge wall of the door.

JOHN H. ROETHEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,639 Price Jan. 25, 19381,227,916 Lauffer May 29, 1917 1,351,568 Hart Aug. 31, 1920 1,383,088Earle June 28, 1921 1,424,686 Somers Aug. 1, 1922 1,687,650 .GiragosianOct. 16, 1928 1,754,889 Halinka Apr. 15, 1930 2,189,992 Pearce Feb. 13,1940 2,193,488 Morley et al Mar. 12, 1940 2,234,810 Simpson Mar. 11,1941 2,240,524 Smith May 6, 1941 2,259,766 Murphy Oct. 21, 19412,304,145 Borchers Dec. 8, 1942

